Stephenson case renews with notice to Jerusalem

The Stephenson bribery case has come to the fore once again. While it was the alleged bribing of nominated MLA Stephenson to vote for TDP MLC candidate to the tune of Rs.50 lakh in the first instalment, the ACB case is to tighten the noose around Jerusalem Muthiah who was allegedly instrumental in the bribery in the second instalment. Political circles are interpreting the ACB case somewhat differently. They say the TDP is left with two MLAs in the city, of whom ten have already been usurped by the ruling TRS in Telangana. The remaining two have become sore thumbs in terms of the Anti-Defection Act. It is to wipe out the TDP from the city that the case is being pursued. The circles suggest that Maganti Gopinath, TDP-Jubilee Hills, who is refusing to fall in line and that he might face the music as the provider of the first instalment of the bribe. The money was allegedly offered to Stepehenson by Revant Reddy, TDP working president in Telangana, who pointed to the money and asked Stephenson to pick it up, as shown in the video at that time. While the ACB is doing its duty, in the court, however, the case is taking a different dimension. Last time round, the Hyderabad High Court had passed strictures against Stephenson for his appeal for recusing the Judge in the case. The Court told him that he could be held for contempt. This time Jerusalem Muthiah was given a week's notice to appear before the Court last night. Accused 4 in the case, Muthiah had lost time disappered from the scene, alleging his life was in danger. He had also said at that time that it was at the instance of Stephenson, who had told him that it was at great expense that he had obtained the position and that Muthaiah should do something about it. The bribery followed thereafter. The bribery case that has become a byword as `vote-for-notes' case has far-reaching implications between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for bringing bad blood between the Telugu States. Subsequently, things were patched up at Chief Ministers' level with Chandrababu Naidu inviting K. Chandrasekhar Rao to attend the foundation-laying cermony of the new Andhra capital of Amaravati and KCR returning the compliment by inviting Chandrababu for his Chandiyagam in Medak. The Stephenson case has lots of potential dangers and the outcome is eagerly awaited all round. Lat time, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu is stated to have played the Good Samaritan between AP and Telangana for a patch up. This time who plays the Good Samaritan remains to be seen, with Jerusalem getting the notice.